Within 6 months we were able to handover on schedule, and everyone would have to agree that our involvement in the project, and the use of the Silka large format block system has been a resounding success.

The successful completion of this project is significant; a clear testament to the Silka Element system and our ability to manage and organise complex projects. We have proven that we can maintain a schedule in a difficult climate, not to mention an acute skills shortage.

Jenner have been a supportive working partner, enthusing about the potential of the Silka Element system and the client suggesting they wish they had used this system on a sister project, which we see as the ultimate endorsement.

When you crunch the build programme by 50% you actually increase the intensity by 200%. The logistics behind this are an exercise in their own right.

We are extremely proud of the achievement, both in its entirety and in individual successes. On this project, we were the first contractor to commission 3 new mini cranes into the UK and we trained 8 operatives on site in a live environment.

Many visitors to the site over the build period commented about the lack of noise, waste, and dust on site, with all cutting taking place off-site.

A good project design helps to create improved productivity and speed, ensuring no manual handling, no cutting, no waste, and no scaffolding. In fact the benefits are 5 fold resulting in a substantially quicker, cheaper, and more cost effective build programme. But this is only true if we get the upfront design, coordination and planning right.

Our early involvement on the Tonbridge project has brought it home to us more than ever. We have been able to work with the main contractor to design-in, as many parts as we can to the Silka Elements before they get on site. We can also then future proof our time on site, taking into account what other contractors may be doing and plan ahead to ensure that we are onsite and offsite in a cost effective and efficient way. This helps us to avoid the many issues that the industry takes for granted and faces on a day to day basis. Inefficient delays and annoying defects / snagging are generally avoided by this future first approach.

We all speak about ‘Early Involvement’ and ‘getting it right 1st time’, using a build system such as Silka takes the discussion to a whole new level. The system work best when planned ahead lending itself to an efficient and quick set up, providing the design and planning has been done well.

The upfront investment in the Design, Coordination and Planning process are absolutely key ingredients to ‘getting it right 1st time’ when the Silka Elements arrive on site. Put the investment in and then when you arrive on site you are able to reap the rewards and deliver to programme.
Without that, you might as well just continue with the defects, and inefficient planning so many of us are subjected to on building sites around the UK.